Apparatus for transferring coal to moving locomotive-tenders



. 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(NolModel.)

APPARATUS I' Patented Jan. 20,1891.

.mwN ma :Ewwm m im t@ m (No Model.) s sheets-sheet J. VAN NEST, Jr., 85 W. B. KINNEY. APPARATUS POB. TRANSFBRRING GOAL To MOVINGLOGOMOTIVB TENDERS.

No. 444,947. Patented Jan. 20, 189,1.

(No Model.) i 4 s sheets-sheet 3.

\ J. VAN NEST,J1-., 85 W. B. KINNEY. l

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPERRING GOAL To MOVING LGGOMOTIVB TENDERS.

N. 444,947. PatentedJaJn. 20, 1891.

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.PA-'firftiNfT-v- JOHN VAN NEST, JR., AND lVILLlAH B. KINNEY, OF NFHVARK, NFV JERSEY.

APPARATUS FORTRANSFERRING COAL`TO MOVING LOCIVIOTIVE-TENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 444,947', dated January 20, 1891.

Serial No. 847,838. (No model.)

To @ZZ 10700172/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN VAN NEsT, Jr., and XVILLIAM B. KINNEY', citizens of the IJnited States, residing at Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Transferring Coal to Moving Locomotiveienders, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. j `This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in transferring coa-l to a moving locomotivetender from a stationary or moving platform by the application of an adjustable scoop attached to the tender. When in use, the scoop projects laterally forward from the top edge of the tender at an angle to the side, but when not in use is retracted to the side of the tender and does not project therefrom. The scoop is fitted on its under side with a heavy brush, which when the scoop is in use just clears the surface of i the adjacent platform parallel to the track and of suitable dimensions to carry a load of coal, so that when the tender is in motion the coal is drawn by the scoop and brush into the tender from the aforementioned platform. This platform may be slightlyinclined toward the track, in which case t-he under side of the scoop is correspondingly inclined and the operation facilitated. The train or tender must move at a low speed if the platform is stationary; but if the platform be the surface of afla-t car running on an adjacent and parallel siding the train may maintain as high a rate of speed as will be lproportionate to that of the ilat car, the difference in their rates being sufficiently small to avoid shock from the contact of the scoop with the coal. To avoid a gap between the tender and platform of the car, the tender is furnished with a lip which is of the saine height as the rear and opposite lips, but projects outward at such an angle as to bring its upper edge in close proximitj7 to the platform.

In reference to the annexed drawings, Fig urel is a side elevation and Fig. 2, an end elevation showing the apparatus in combination with .a flat car which runs onan adjacent and elevated siding parallel tothe track.

Fig. 3 is aside-elevation of the tender. and

apparatus, looking from the side opposite the platform; and Fig. 4, a plan of the tender and apparatus. Figs. 5 and 6. show the leversockets in side elevation and the lever in section. Fig. 7 shows the scoop-frame, brush, and upper part of the spindle at an angle of forty-tive degrees. Fig. 8 is a plan of the scoop and the spindle. Fig. 9 is a plan of the scoop-plate. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the scoopsplate. Fig. ll is a side elevation, and Fig. l2 an end elevation, of a steam coal-car ruiming on surface tracks adjacent and parallel to the main track. Y

f represents a railroad-track, and @represents aparallel elevated and adjacent siding, onwhich runs a flat car b, with its sur-A face my slightly inclined toward the track, of dimensions suitable to carry a load of coal, and the lower edge about two or three inches higher than the top edge. of the tender C, which tender is iitted with the scoop d. The scoop consists of a flat plate j, securely bolted to the frame 7c and the spindle 0, which frame is of the same length and height as the plate. It is one piece, as shown, and is constructed with the fiatfaces k, strength'- ened by the ribs 7.52, which project backward, and the outer extremity h of the lower rib projects outward far enough to permitof the lever attach ment, hereinafter described. The length of the scoop is such that when in working position it may project outward enough to take a desired amount of coal. Its height is suitable for the same purpose. The under side' is constructed with an inclination similar to that of the platform of the car, to 'be used in combination with the platform j"A of the steam coal-car n. It would be constructed vparallel with .that platform, so that when in use the heavy brush d may just clear and sweep over the entire platform of the car. The scoop is attached to the upright spindle, which is pivoted in the bearings o and-rests on them by means of the collars o2. 'llhe spindie, which is cylindrical from its lower eX- tremity, tits loosely in cylindrical holes in its bearings and freely revolves in them., The collars are located on the spindle at such positions that they both rest on the uppersur face of their respective bearings. From the upper collar the spindle slightlyexpands,and

at the top of the lip becomes rectangular, afford-ing fiat surfaces for the scoop attachment, hereinafter described. Theheight of the spindle above the lip is about two feet, and its diameter sufficient to withstand the strain imposed upon it. The lever I, rigidly secured to the top of the spindlc,is designed to throw the scoop into working position, or vice versa, and runs from the opposite side of the tender perpendicular to the scoop in an upward curve to the top of the spindle, (so as not to interfere with orbe struck bythe c0al,) where it takes a turn of ninety degrees, running parallel and contiguous with the rear of the scoop downward to the lowest outermost point h of the` scoop, to which it is securely bolted. The lever is of convenient dimensions, the thickness being slightly increased at the right angle for few inches along each arm to give Vstrength to the attachment with the spindle, and on being turned (to facilitate which a handley is attached at the extremity of its long arm) will move the scoop and keep it in the desired position by means of the open socket e, hereinafter described, in which the le- 4 ver rests. The lever may be constructed. having any angle at the spindle and the bearings located at such places on the tank, and when the'scoop is in use the lever rests in one, and when unemployed rests in the other. If desirable, more than two sockets may be used, so as to give the scoop several working positions.

e represents the open socket in which the lever is held when the scoop is in use, and is located at a position on the tank where it may hold the lever and scoop in a desirable working position. It is a casting of a proper height to keep the lever from contact with thecoal,

consisting of a block e', having a rectangular groove in which the lever tits easily, the forward side/t' of the groove being as high as the thickness of the lever and strong enough to withstand the pressure of the lever, the rear side t" of the groove being less than half as high and inclined, as shown, toward the rear to permit the easy introduction of the lever,

the lower part being in the middle, a thin.

sheet s, with thicker extremities s', ending in a plate bolted to the top of the tank.

e2 represents an open socket located at a proper position upon the tank to hold the 1ever when the scoop is unemployed. It has a rectangular groove with sides of suitable height and strength, the foremost t2 being inclined for the easy introduction of the lever. The lower part is constructed like that of the (irst socket, but differs slightly in shape, and is likewise bolted to the top of the tank.

To avoid a gap between the tender and coalear, the lip t# of the tender nearest the platform projects outward about oneifoot from the side along its entire length, thus filling the horizontal gap between the platform and the tender.

Upon the rear of the tender, and running along its entire breadth, is shown the shield Q, the function of which is to check the backward movement of the coal. This shield consists of a rectangular sheet q, about threeeighths of an inch thickness, supported and strengthened by the frame q', which is of the same height and width as the sheet fitting upon its rear. This frame is of the ordinary construction, havin slats to support the sheet and ribs projecting backward to oer resistance. The shield is about a foot and a half higher than the lip of the tender, is fastened to the tank, and, for additional strength, the braces d2 are bolted to each side about midway of the height and to the tank about one foot forward. The steel brush el is bolted on the lower rib of the scoop-frame and eX- tends entirely over the platform when the scoop is adjusted in a working position.

p represents a bar, of suitable dimensions,

extending from the upper outer extremity of` the scoop-frame to the lever at about the middle of the tender and is bolted to them..

o' represents a cable (which is the motive power of the coal-car) attached to the car by means of the cable-grip r2, and r represents the wheels upon which the cable runs and which support it. The cable is wound upon a druin conveniently located and revolved by a stationary reversible engine, so that when the engine is in motion the car also moves, and may go in the opposite direction when the engine is reversed.

The steam coal-car n, running on adjacent and parallel surface tracks, is so constructed that its platform f equals or slightly exceeds in height thel top of the tender. It is impelled by the locomotive-engine n', located in a convenient part of the car. A board n2 may be placed upon the edge of the coal-bearing platform just beyond the path of the scoop, running parallel to the side of the car along the entire length of the platform, to keep the coal from spreading over the top of the car.

From the above description of the apparatus the operation performed in combination with a stationary platform will be readily seen to consist in having the scoop properly adjusted and the tender in motion at a proper rate past that platform, in which case the coal will be drawn into the tender. It will also be seen from the above description that if the operation is performed with a platform movable parallel with the track the operation will be according to the following description.

Then a train approaching at a proper rate wishes to take coal,the scoop is correctly adjusted and upon its arrival at a signal placed at a proper distance from the coal-station the car is set in motion in the direction the train is going, and just after, or at the moment it acquires its greatest velocity, it is overtaken by the tender, and the scoop strikes the coal with sufficient force not to produce shock, but to draw the coal into the tender, While the brush, being flexible, when pressed upon the platform of the coal-car by the rocking Vand swaying of the tender and coal-car, yields,

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thus avertingall danger of mishap that would arise from the iron scoop striking the platform.

Ve are aware that means for the transfer of passengers or freight between parallel moving` trains and receiving and discharging freight or passengers bya moving train have heretofore been proposed,as shown in United States Patents Nos. 157,514 and 355,927, and we herebydisclaim said patents. Ourinvention differs from theirs in the novel features of transferring coal to a moving tender from a coal-platform when they run at different speeds and without connection.

Having thus set forth the nature of curinvention, what We claim herein is- 1. The combination, with a tender moving on a railroad-track, of a coal-platform movable parallel with the track at a rate different from that of tender, and an adjustable scoop movable laterallyto and from the tender over the platform, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The eombinatioinwith a tender moving upon a railroad-track, of a coal-platform movable parallel with the track ata rate different from that of tender, and an adjustable scoop movable laterally to and from the tender over the plat-form, and provided With a brush to sweep the coal from the platform, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a tender moving upon a railroad-track, of a coal-platform movable parallel with the track at a rate different from that of tender, an adjustable scoop movable laterally to and from the tender over the platform, provided With'a brush to sweep the coal from the platform, and means for locking the scoop in its operative position, substantialhT as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The means for drawing coal into atender, consisting in a scoop fixed to the spindle 0, pivoted in bearings upon the side of the tender, and a lever attached to such spindle foradjusting the scoop, substantially as herein described.

5. The means fordrawing coal into a tender from a platform, consistingin an upright spindle pivoted at the side of the tender, a scoop projecting from the spindle, alever attached to the scoop and projected across the tender, and sockets to retain the lever at the ends of its throw, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with a tender moving upon a railroad-track, of a coal-platform movable parallel with the track at a rate different from that of tender, a scoop movable to and from the tender over the platform, and a shield at the rear of the tender to arrest the coal, substantially as herein set forth.

7. The combination, with a tender moving upon a railroad-track, of acoal-platform movable parallel with the track at a rate different from that of tender, a lip extended from the side of the tender contiguous to the platform7 and a scoop movable to and from the tender over the platform, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN VAN NEST, JR. VILLIAM B; KINNEY. Witnesses:

H. J. MILLER, FRED. C. FISCHER. 

